Wi-fi 7 is on the way and it will give wireless internet a massive speed boost.
At the very least, the upgraded network will rid the video-buffering issues that can ruin a Netflix binge or the lag that can derail an all-important victory in Modern Warfare 3.
Even better than that, wi-fi 7 promises to deliver a range of new experiences powered by the latest electronic gadgets, from game streaming to 8K video.
While your current devices will work with the new network, a raft of new phones and laptops will take better advantage of it. You’ll also need a pricey new router. Unfortunately internet providers have not said when they will adopt the new standard, except that it will be this year.
What is wi-fi 7?
Officially revealed at the tail-end of last year, wi-fi 7 is the name for the new wireless-internet standard. Following on from wi-fi 6 and wi-fi 6E, the new network will deliver higher transfer speeds, reduced latency and increased overall network capacity.
How fast is wi-fi 7?
Of course, the main thing you probably want to know is how fast it is. Well, a demo by Intel showed that a typical laptop with wi-fi 7 support can hit a maximum download rate of 5.8 Gbps. That’s 2.4 times faster than wi-fi 6/6E and lightyears ahead of the UK average of 86.5 Mbps.
Theoretically, Wi-fi 7 can blaze past the 9.6 Gbps offered by Wi-fi 6 to hit a whopping 46Gbps. But, most router makers concede that actual speeds will depend on the service you get from your internet provider, your data plan and networking hardware.
Will Wi-fi 7 improve your internet connection?
The simple answer is yes. In practical terms, Wi-fi 7 will give your electronic devices more room to connect with your router.
That’s important because the amount of data-gobbling gadgets in a typical household is growing all the time. Phones, laptops, TVs, appliances and smart-home devices are all jostling for space on your home or work network.
What Wi-fi 7 does is double the amount of space those devices have to communicate with a router. Think of it like a motorway: whereas wi-fi 6 had four lanes, wi-fi 7 has eight. Suddenly, you can fit more cars (devices) into those lanes. Technically speaking, this can be achieved because wi-fi 7 takes advantage of the 320mhz channel versus 120mhz for wi-fi 6.
Not only that, the new network standard works on all three frequency bands (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 6Ghz). That means your devices are no longer restricted to a single connection. As a result, your phone or laptop should be able to download files faster and with less interruption. If one connection drops out, the device can hop on to another, thanks to a new feature called multi-link operation.
In addition, wi-fi 7 can double the simultaneous connections that are possible between devices and routers from eight to 16 – courtesy of its support for 16 x 16 MU-MIMO.
Is Wi-fi 7 available now?
Wi-fi 7 will launch in 2024 and the tricky part for users is compatibility. Like previous standards, wi-fi 7 will work with older gadgets but to make the most of its new features you’ll need to purchase new devices.
The good news for Brits is that EE has already announced that its next-gen home-broadband service will feature wi-fi 7, and will arrive in 2024.
If you have a spare £800 lying around, you can already buy a wi-fi 7 router in the shape of the Netgear Nighthawk RS700S. A number of high-end Android phones can technically handle wi-fi 7, courtesy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, including the Samsung Galaxy S23 series. However, on paper, those phones still only offer wi-Fi 6e.
You’ll also find wi-fi 7 compatibility in the 16-inch Acer Swift Edge laptop, and Intel is set to release the network components PCs require later this year.
